Liberty (8-5) sees its unblemished bowl record come to an end in the 2022 Boca Raton Bowl with a 21-19 loss to Toledo on Tuesday night.
The Flames would take the first quarter lead, 7-0, but that would be all the celebration for the team clad in red. The Rockets would score 21 unanswered points to seize control of the game. Liberty would make things interesting in the final minutes with two touchdowns, but a missed extra point and failed two point conversion left the Flames just short.
Trailing 7-3 at halftime, Toledo had a very impressive drive to open the second half and take their first lead of the game at 10-7. Just two plays later, Liberty quarterback Kaidon Salter would fumble as he was sacked from behind. The Rockets would recover the fumble inside the 10-yard line. After a strong defensive stand, Toledo pushed its lead to 13-7. A fourth quarter touchdown and two point conversion would make it a two score game and be too much for the Flames to overcome.
FLAMES’ SEE PERFECT BOWL RECORD END
Liberty won three straight bowl games over the past three seasons, the first three bowl game appearances in program history. The Flames defeated Georgia Southern in the 2019 Cure Bowl, Coastal Carolina in the 2020 Cure Bowl, and Eastern Michigan in the 2021 Lending Tree Bowl.
The Flames were hoping to become only the second team to win a bowl game during each of their first four seasons of full bowl eligibility, joining Appalachian State.
OFFENSE UNABLE TO FIND ANY CONSISTENCY
The Flames were unable to find any consistency on the offensive side of the ball. With Hugh Freeze and co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kent Austin among the coaches that have left the program to join Auburn, it was a makeshift offensive staff.
Kaidon Salter got the call as starting quarterback, he showed some promise, but overall was unable to string together enough positive plays to give the offense a fighter’s chance until late in the fourth quarter. Salter would finish the game 12/20 passing for 84 yards and 1 touchdown while the offense had 253 yards of total offense.
SEASON ENDS IN DISAPPOINTING FASHION AFTER 8-1 START
Liberty started the season at 8-1 and was riding high coming off two of the biggest wins in program history over BYU and Arkansas. Those wins helped vault the Flames into the top 25 ranked as high as No. 19 in the polls. Liberty would then be favorites in the final three games of the regular season, but lost all three, finishing the year on a three-game losing streak at the end of the regular season for a second straight year.
Hugh Freeze has since left for Auburn, several players have entered the transfer portal, and Liberty was unable to the win and stop the losing streak. For many, they may be glad the season has finally come to an end the way things have gone the last few weeks, but this is the last we will see of Liberty football for several months. A season that once felt so promising, finishes in disappointment.
Last 4 games were absolutely brutal to watch. Priority #1 needs to be finding some CBs that can tackle. #2 replacing Durrell Johnson. #3 add more down field throws to our offensive system. God awful effort to end the season.
Jacob, I hear you. Terrible way to end the season with this skid.
We were very thin last night and it showed as several played the entire game (on O or D). The defense played as good as you could ask for given how badly Freeze decimated this team in the last three weeks. Toledo was good. The best in the MAC. Much faster than anyone thought.
But to your point – Durrell Johnson. How do you replace a guy like that? Never have I seen a player lay it on the line each and every snap! Incredible athlete. All heart! We are going to miss that dude.
Coach Chadwell will turn this thing around for us. Let’s give him time to pick up the pieces and put us back together again. Better days are ahead for LU.
#GoFlames